Guide for electrode mounts



April 17, 1951 H. E. BAKER ET AL GUIDE FOR ELECTRODE MOUNTS Filed Dec.1'7, 1949 8 CHARLES A.

C ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1951 GUIDE FOR ELECTRODE MOUNTS Harold E.Baker, Danvers, and Charles A. Young,

Gloucester, Mass., assignors to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Salem,Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 17, 1949,Serial No. 133,602

Claims. (Cl. 492) This invention relates to electric lamp manufacturingequipment, and more particularly to lamp sealing machines.

In the manufacture of fluorescent lamps, electrode mounts are sealed inthe ends of an elongated glass tube on the lamp sealing machine. Thecomponent parts, i. e., the electrode mounts and the elongated glasstubes are fed to the lamp sealing machine, manually or mechanically,where they are properly positioned with reference to one another for thesealing operation. When a high speed lamp sealing machine is employed,the electrode mounts and the elongated glass tubes must be fed theretorapidly. Since some electrode mounts have an'exhaust tube as well aslead wires, the speed at which a lamp sealing machine may be operated isdetermined in large part by the speed with which electrode mounts may befed to and accurately seated on their supports on the lamp sealingmachine.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanism whereby the speedwith which electrode mounts may be fed to and accurately seated on theirsupports on a lamp sealing machine may be increased.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for automatically effectingproper positioning of the exhaust tube and lead wires of an electrodemount for the threading thereof into the mount support on the lampsealing machine.

Further objects, advantages and features will be apparent from. thefollowing description thereof, when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a lamp sealing machine,showing two of the lamp sealing machine heads.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view in section taken along the lines2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view with the lamp sealing machineand the heads in phantom for clarity.

The lamp sealing machine with which the apparatus of this invention maybe employed may be of the type shown in U. S. Patent 2,349,822 forexample. The lamp sealing machine comprises a turntable I with aplurality of heads 2 (two of which are shown in the drawing) supportedfrom the periphery thereof by brackets 3. Each head 2 has a centrallydisposed aperture therein into which the shank 4 of a mount pin 5extends. The head 6 of the mount pin 5 is a serrated frustro-conicalmember which defines a seat for an electrode mount. Each lamp sealinghead 2 has a burner 1 which is concentric with the 2 shank 4 of themount pin 5. The burner I has a plurality of ports 8 disposed radiallythereabout. The mount pin 5 is a hollow member defining a chamber intowhich the lead wires 9 and exhaust tube H) of an electrode mount ll arethreaded. In addition to the lead wires 9 and the exhaust tube In, theelectrode mount ll com prises a flare l2, a stem press [3 through whichlead wires 9 are sealed and in which an exhaust ort I4 is blown, and anelectrode [5 mounted on the lead wires 9. A glass-working ring I6 isdisposed on the top of the lamp sealing head 2.

The mount guide of this invention comprises a pair of coacting platesand 5| with a depending frustro-conical central portion 11 whichde finea funnel l8. Plate 50 has a shank portion 23 which is attached to asupport l9. Plate 51 is pivotally mounted at 52 on plate 50, therebydefining a gate in the funnel. An arm, such as a still wire member 2 I,for example, is attached at one end thereof to the periphery of plate 5|and extends about the major portion of the periphery of the funnel l8. Aspring 22, attached at one end thereof to a pin 20 upstanding on theshank 23 of plate 50, is connected to the free end of the stiff wiremember 2!. Plate 50 has a rod 50 attached to the periphery thereof andextending on an inclined plane therefrom.

In the drawing, two of the plurality of heads mounted about theperiphery of the turntable l of the lamp sealing machine areillustrated. The turntable I carries the heads 2 through a plurality ofstations at which various steps in the lamp sealing operation areperformed. In the drawings, station A is the mount feeding station andstation B is the first station at which the electrode mount is seated onthe mount pin 5. The mount-guiding funnel I8 is mounted at sta tion Aand is disposed so that its aperture 24 is above and in register withthe aperture in the mount pin 5 of a lamp sealing head 2 when the headis at station A. The aperture in the funnel I8 is no larger in diameterthan the aperture in the mount pin 5 and is preferably smaller to insureproper threading of the exhaust tube It! and lead wires 9.

The mount guide of this invention may be employed advantageously whetherthe mounts be fed to the sealing machine manually or mechanically.However, it is particularly advantageous in the case of mechanicalfeeding at speeds greater than the speed 'with which an operator cansatisfactorily perform the operation.

In operation, an electrode mount H is seated on the funnel l8 byinserting the exhaust tube In and lead wires 9 thereof into thefrustroconical central portion I! of the funnel i8. Because of itscontour and the diameter of the aperture 24, the funnel automaticallythreads the exhaust tube l and the lead wires 9 into the chambertherefor in the mount pin 5, and the flare l2 comes to rest on theplates 50 and 5| of the funnel (Figure 2, station A). The lamp sealingmachine now indexes and carries the lamp sealing head from station A tostation B. During the course of its travel from station A to station Bthe electrode mount Ii, guided by the inclined rod 62, gradually dropsdown until it seats itself on the mount pin, 5.

In order for the mount l i to move with the head into which its exhausttubeand lead wires, were partially threaded, the funnel is must beopened. Movement of the lamp sealing machine head 2 from station Acauses a force to .be. applied through the exhaust tube ill on. the

frustro-conical central portion ll of the funnel i 8. This force issufiicient to displace the plate 5|, which functions as agate pivotingabout point 52, in a counter-clockwise direction a distance. sufiicientto permit theexhaust tube to andv lead wires 9 to. pass between thenormally closed adjacent faces ure. 3, station A).

As. the plate 5|. moves in a counter-clockwise direction, the stiffwire, member 21 is, moved in a similar direction, thereby distending,the spring 22., After the exhaust tube Ill and lead wires 9 have. movedbeyond the periphery of the funnel l8, thespring 22 effects a closing ofthe plate. 5|. with, the plate 50.

It, will be noted from the drawing, particularly Figures l and 3,station A, that the aperture 2 4 at. the truncated apex of thefrustroeconical central, portion, I? of the funnel I8 is not trulycircular in contour; Deviation from truly circular configuration, occursat the adjacent faces of plates 50 and 51 which part to provide a pathof travel for the exhaust tube In and the lead wires 9, the portion 34.being tangential and the portion 35. be ng rounded. This configurae tionhas been found to be more advantageous than a truly circular contourbecause it minimizes the possibility of one or both, of the lead wiresbeing caught therein and drawn out of position during the travel of theexhaust tube in and lead. wires 9 through the path provided for themwhenthe plate 5| swings counterclockwise.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for threading the lead wires and of plates 56 and 5|(Figexhausttube of an electrode mount into a chamber therefor in a mountpin of a lamp sealing machine, said apparatus comprising: a funnelhaving a normally closed gate portion hinged thereon; an arm mounted onsaid gate portion and extending about a portion of the periphery of saidfunnel; and means for actuating said arm to effect a closing of saidgate after it has been opened.

2. Apparatus for positioning an, electrode mount on a mount pin of alamp sealing machine, said apparatus comprising: a funnel having anormally closed gate portion; means for automatically closing said gateafter it has been opened; and a guide track extending outwardly anddownwardly from the periphery of said funnel 3, Apparatus forpositioning an electrode mount on a mount pin of a lamp sealing machine,said apparatus comprising: a funnel having a normally closed gateportion, the diameter of the outlet of the funnel being, no greater thanthe diameter of the chamber in'themount pin; means for automaticallyclosing said gate after it has been opened; and a. guide track extendingoutwardly and downwardly from. the periphery of said funnel.

4. Apparatus for positioning an electrode mount on a mount pin of. alamp sealing ma.- chine, said apparatuscomprising: afunnel havins, anormally closed, gate portion; an arm mounted on said gate portion;means for actuating said arm to efiTeQt a-closing of said gate after ithas b n. pened; and a guide track extending outwardly and downwardlyfrom, the per phery of said funnel.

5. Apparatus fo posi ioning an electrod mount on a mount pin. of, alamp. sealing ma chine, said apparatus comprising; afunnel havng, anorma ly closed gate portionhinged ther on; and a resilient arm attachedto the periphery of said funnel and extending about a Portion thereofincluding a portion. of the periphery of said gate and in contacttherewith to effect a closing of said gate after it has been opened.

A Rv .OLD E. BAKE R. CHARLES A. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The, following references are file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS of record in the

